The Karnataka Government decided late on Tuesday night to comply with the Supreme Court’s order asking it to release 15,000 cusecs of water from Cauvery reservoirs to Tamil Nadu, despite massive protests and bandhs throughout the day in the State.
In the Cauvery heartland of Mandya, life came to a standstill due to the bandh call given by the Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti (MZRHS) against the Supreme Court’s order.
Traffic between Bengaluru and Mysuru which connects Tamil Nadu and Kerala was drastically hit by the bandh. Members of the MZRHS and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Kannada activists blocked the traffic at many places between Srirangapatna and Maddur taluk on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. Shops, commercial establishments, theatres and hotels remained closed in support of the bandh.
In Mandya, the local Congress office was targeted and ransacked accusing the Congress Government of inaction in protecting the interests of the State farmers.
However, despite all the opposition, in a late night Press conference Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after an all-party meeting told the media, “In the light of Supreme Court order, Karnataka will release water to Tamil Nadu from tonight despite severe hardship.”
He also announced Karnataka will immediately file a modification application against the SC order. However he has assured the State that the Government would make all possible efforts to supply drinking water to all the towns and cities which include Bengaluru. He also said the Government would try to give water to farmers for their crops.
The all-party meeting witnessed a fierce debate between leaders of the Opposition parties and the Chief Minister and other Ministers. The JDs in protest walked out of the meeting. The BJP argued that Government did not present the State’s case in the SC and opposed releasing of water at this juncture.
G Madegowda, president of Cauvery Hita Rakshana Samithi, the body spearheading the agitation, criticised the Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister for their "irresponsible" behaviour over the Cauvery issue. He also called the district MlAs to resign en masse to protest against the "injustice".
The Mandya police detained several agitators when they tried to ransack some Government offices near the KSRTC bus stand in the town. Members of the KRRS and Mekedatu Horata Samithi staged demonstrations on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway near the KSRTC bus stand in Ramanagaram.
Farmer's organisations staged demonstrations in different parts of Mysuru in protest against the Supreme Court order. Farmers gathered in front of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) in Mysuru as a mark of protest. Farmers, led by Kabini Hitharakshana Vedike leader Kurubur Shanthakumar, blocked the road leading to Nanjangud and burnt an effigy of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The Advocates Association in Mysuru boycotted court proceedings on Tuesday. Advocates, who gathered for a demonstration outside the court complex, decided to stay away from the proceedings to register their protest against court order.
Prohibitory orders have been clamped around Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam and entry of visitors to it prohibited till September 9, as the Cauvery row intensified after the Supreme Court direction to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days to address the plight of the farmers there.